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The experimental procedure.

The experimental procedure.

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Background: Aromatherapy has been proved to be effective in alleviating anxiety in practices and research. Recently, copaiba oil (CPO) is popular in the market and is recommended for anxiety relief in aromatherapy practice. However, relevant scientific research is still lacking. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the...

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... Therefore, fatigue and anxiety are conditions that an individual experiences almost simultaneously [17]. Confusion, fatigue, and addiction are characteristic adverse effects of anxiety pharmacotherapy; for this reason, the use of non-pharmacological alternatives, including inhalation and massage aromatherapy, has emerged as one of the promising therapeutic tools due to its low cost and fewer side effects [59]. ...
... The aromatic resin of copaiba (Copaifera officinalis, Fabaceae) has been widely used in folk medicine for its anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and skin-healing properties. Its main component is β-caryophyllene, which has been attributed to anxiolytic effects by attenuating cortisol levels in clinical trials and reducing cortisone in animals [59]. Another useful plant for the treatment of psychological disorders is padhi, also known as velvet leaf, abuta, and Pereira root (Cissampelos pareira, Menispermaceae). ...
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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a variety of ancient therapies with origins in cultures such as those of China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, India, and Rome. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies these integrative therapies into five categories: (1) mind–body therapies, (2) biological practices, (3) manipulative and body practices, (4) energy medicine, and (5) whole medical systems, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. This review explores the role of biological practices utilizing aromatic plants, particularly through inhalation aromatherapy and massage with essential oils, as effective complementary strategies within health systems. The review compiles information on the most commonly used plants and essential oils for holistic health maintenance from a complementary and alternative perspective. Given their accessibility and relative safety compared to conventional treatments, these therapies have gained popularity worldwide. Furthermore, the integration of essential oils has been shown to alleviate various psychological and physiological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disorders, neuropathic pain, nausea, and menopausal symptoms. Among the studied plants, lavender has emerged as being particularly notable due to its broad spectrum of therapeutic effects and its designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “Generally Recognized as Safe”. Other essential oils under investigation include eucalyptus, damask rose, sandalwood, vetiver, calamus, frankincense, chamomile, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, sage, rosemary, garlic, and black pepper. This study emphasizes the potential benefits of these aromatic plants in enhancing patient well-being. Additionally, it underscores the importance of conducting further research to ensure the safety and efficacy of these therapies.
... This method is valued for its ability to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and even improve sleep quality. Diffusing copaiba essential oil in environments also contributes to purifying the air and creating an atmosphere conducive to calmness and emotional balance [33]. ...
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Essential oils, known for their complex mixture of bioactive compounds, have long been used in traditional medicine and have shown potential in treating various diseases, including cancer. Recent studies highlight their anticancer properties, such as cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic effects. Essential oils contain molecules like terpenes and phenylpropanoids, which induce apoptosis in cancer cells by interfering with cellular signaling pathways. For instance, frankincense oil induces programmed cell death in breast cancer cells, while compounds like curcumin and thymol inhibit the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, certain essential oils prevent metastasis by inhibiting the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Despite promising preclinical results, the effectiveness and safety of essential oils in cancer treatment require further validation through human clinical trials. This review discusses the potential of essential oils as complementary therapies in cancer treatment, emphasizing the need for cautious application under professional supervision due to their concentrated nature and possible adverse effects. The therapeutic promise of essential oils lies in their ability to induce apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation, and prevent metastasis, underscoring the importance of rigorous research to ensure their safe and effective use in oncology.
... Despite extensive research having been conducted on the EOs of traditional medicinal plants and some tree species (Matsubara et al., 2011;Ikei et al., 2015;Han et al., 2017;Matsubara et al., 2017;Kim and Song, 2022;Zhang et al., 2022), studies on other types of plants are still minimal. Additionally, and the research indicators used have not been comprehensive. ...
... Physiologically, the alterations in BP and pulse are associated with stress (Zhang et al., 2022). Heart rate and blood pressure are commonly utilized to measure the psychophysiological effects of fragrances. ...
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Background Cinnamomum camphora is a commercially important tree species in China, and it’s also a common native tree in the forests of southern China. However, literature on the impact of Cinnamomum camphora essential oil (CCEO) on human psychophysiological activity is scarce. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of exposure to CCEO on the functioning of the human autonomic nervous system, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and emotional state. Methods Forty-three healthy university students participated. The data collected included heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and the results of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test. Results A drop in diastolic pressure (DBP) and pulse rate was also noticed after participants inhaled CCEO. Furthermore, EEG studies have demonstrated notable reductions in absolute beta (AB), absolute gamma (AG), absolute high beta (AHB), and relative gamma (RG) power spectra during exposure to CCEO. Conversely, the relative theta (RT) and power spectra values showed a significant increase. Additionally, the finding from POMS indicated that the fragrance evoked positive emotions and suppressed negative feelings. Conclusion The results suggest that exposure to CCEO may promote mental and physical relaxation, facilitate cognitive processes such as memory and attention, and enhance mood states.
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Essential oils with β-caryophyllene, citral, and linalool as key compounds often exhibit some anti-anxiety like effects in aromatherapy. However, evidence of the effect of these three compounds through human inhalation remains limited. It is worth exploring their potential anxiolytic effect through the olfactory pathway, and finding out whether the three compounds lead to different physiological responses. A total of 48 subjects were randomly assigned to three odor (β-caryophyllene, citral, and linalool) inhalation groups and one control (odorless jojoba oil) group. Stress stimulation was induced using n-back and mental arithmetic tasks. The odor was administered before the task test session. Assessments including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), electroencephalogram (EEG) activities, facial expressions, several physiological indicators, and a self-report scale of subjective perception of the odor environments were carried out. The changes before and after inhalation, as well as the inter-group differences, were analyzed. Both β-caryophyllene and citral inhalation led to a significant decrease in anxiety levels, while only β-caryophyllene resulted in a notable reduction across both sub-scales of STAI. Following the odor inhalation, heart rate significantly decreased in all three groups, with the β-caryophyllene group exhibiting the most pronounced decline. While the systolic blood pressure of the linalool group demonstrated a statistically significant difference. Regarding facial expressions, β-caryophyllene significantly increased the ratio of 'Happiness' and decreased the ratio of ‘Fear'. In the non-task state, citral reduced the power of frontal alpha, delta, and theta waves while β-caryophyllene had a similar effect. All odor inhalation groups showed increased delta and theta waves after the task compared with the control group, with the β-caryophyllene group having notably lower frontal beta waves. β-Caryophyllene and citral exhibited good anti-anxiety effects. Subjects receiving different odors showed different EEG and physiological responses, indicating the differences in emotional regulation ways among the three compounds.
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Background and purpose The findings of clinical studies exploring essential oils (EOs) for anxiety remain disputed, and no studies have yet clarified the differences in the efficacy of EOs. The purpose of the study was to directly or indirectly compare the efficacy of different types of EOs on anxiety by pooling the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched from inception to November 2022. Only full texts of RCTs that investigated the effects of EOs on anxiety were included. The trial data were extracted and the risk of bias was assessed by two reviewers independently. Pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed by Stata 15.1 or R 4.1.2 software. Results Forty-four RCTs (fifty study arms) involving 10 kinds of EOs and 3419 anxiety patients (1815 patients in EOs group and 1604 patients in control group) were included. Pairwise meta-analyses showed that EOs were effective in reducing State Anxiety Inventory scores (SAIS) [WMD = −6.63, 95% CI−8.17, −5.08] and Trait Anxiety Inventory scores (TAIS) [WMD = −4.97, 95% CI−6.73, −3.20]. Additionally, EOs could decrease systolic blood pressure (SBP) [WMD = −6.83, (95% CI −10.53, −3.12), P < 0.001] and heart rate (HR) [WMD = −3.43, (95% CI −5.51, −1.36), P < 0.001]. Network meta-analyses demonstrated that regarding the outcome of SAIS, Jasminum sambac (L.)Ait. (jasmine) was the most effective with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of−13.61 (95% CrI−24.79, −2.48). Followed by Citrus (citrus aurantium L.), which had a WMD of−9.62 (95% CrI−13.32, −5.93). Moderate effect sizes were observed for Rosa rugosa Thunb. (damask rose) (WMD = −6.78, 95% CrI−10.14, −3.49) and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (lavender) (WMD = −5.41, 95% CrI−7.86, −2.98). Regarding the results of TAIS, citrus aurantium L. was the best ranked intervention with a WMD of−9.62 (95% CrI−15.62, −3.7). Moderate-to-large effect sizes were observed for Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F. (lemon) (WMD:−8.48; 95% CrI−16.67, −0.33) and lavender (WMD:−5.5; 95% CrI−8.7, −2.46). Conclusion According to the comprehensive analysis, EOs are effective in reducing both state anxiety and trait anxiety, and citrus aurantium L. essential oil seems to be the most recommended type of EO for treating anxiety because of its significant effects in reducing SAIS and TAIS. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022331319.
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Objective: Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms associated with autistic spectrum disorder. The essential oil of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson, usually known as ylang-ylang oil (YYO), is often used in aromatherapy as a mood-regulating agent, sedative, or hypotensive agent. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of YYO in alleviating anxiety, social and cognitive behaviors in autism-like rats were investigated. Methods: The prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model was used to induce autism-like behaviors in offspring rats. The effectiveness of prenatal sodium valproate treatment (600 mg/kg) on offspring was shown by postnatal growth observation, and negative geotaxis, olfactory discrimination and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Then three treatment groups were formed with varying exposure to atomized YYO to explore the effects of YYO on the anxiety, social and cognitive behaviors of the autistic-like offspring through the elevated plus-maze test, three-chamber social test, and MWM test. Finally, the monoamine neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine and their metabolites, in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the rats were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Offspring of VPA exposure rats showed autism-like behaviors. In the VPA offspring, medium-dose YYO exposure significantly elevated the time and entries into the open arms in the elevated plus-maze test, while low-dose YYO exposure significantly enhanced the social interaction time with the stranger rat in session 1 of the three-chamber social test. VPA offspring treated with YYO exposure used less time to reach the platform in the navigation test of the MWM test. YYO exposure significantly elevated the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine in the PFC of VPA offspring. Conclusion: YYO exposure showed the effects in alleviating anxiety and improving cognitive and social abilities in the offspring of VPA exposure rats. The role of YYO was related to the regulation of the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine. Please cite this article as: Zhang N, Wang ST, Yao L. Inhalation of Cananga odorata essential oil relieves anxiety behaviors in autism-like rats via regulation of serotonin and dopamine metabolism. J Integr Med. 2023; Epub ahead of print.